The privately-funded Vondel park in Amsterdam  opened in 1865 and was designed by the Zocher father and son landscape gardening team. In 1953 the park was sold to the city council for the token sum of one guilder with the proviso it remained open to walkers, cyclists and continued to stage musical performances.

At 47 hectares, it might be a baby compared with Hyde Park in London or New York’s Central Park. But it packs in a lot of trees, cafes and visitors.

4,980 trees – give or take the odd one or two that blow down in each winter storm

66 different types of trees – presuming they have not blown down

275 street lanterns to cast a ghostly glow on a winter night.

17 works of art, including a fish sculpture designed by Picasso

200 waste bins – which is no where near enough on a busy summer’s day

26 places where dog owners can pick up a dog mess bag

Four cafes

One open air theatre

12 million visitors a year

One stork family and hundreds of bright green shrieking ring-necked parakeets which nest in the trees.

Thanks to the Parool for most of the facts